The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-23
ORGANIZING A NEW PARTY.
Proceedings of the Mueh-Advertised In
dustrial Conference at Cincinnati.
The Attendance of Delegates, Instead of
Reaching 800, Is Only 30O-Organization
Perfected and Committees Appointed.

gates stood on the steps awaiting admission.
Within, the great hall was silent and tenantless
Placards were placed in the asles with the names
OF States on them as guides for the seating of
| delegates Two United States flags, crossed in
front of the speakers desk, formed the sole at
| tempt at decoration Half an hour later two
decorators appeared with twol long strips of mus
lin, with flag designs printed on them. and pro-
ceeded in leisurely manner to stretch them
across the stage. Before this was accomplished,
the doors were opened and the delegates to this
| first convention of the new party began to take
their seats
novel feature of the delegation is the pres
ence of ten lady delegates. They took seats,
not in a bunch, but among the men of the proper
States, and appeared to be entirely at home in
this new business Among them are Miss Marion
Todd, OF Battle Creek. Mich; Mrs. Heath, of
Chicago and Mrs DR.. Severance, of Milwaukee
While the delegates gathered the committee
on organization was engaged in choosing a tenn
porary chairman. Richard Trevellick
lected but declined on account of his connection
with the Knights of Labor national lecturer.
At o'clock and five minutes, Mr.. B. S. Heath,
| of Chicago, chairman of the executive commit
tee. called the convention to order. AT that
time. there were about three hundred delegates
seated, and very sparse attendance of specta-
| tors. Mr.. Heath said it was customary and
| proper on such occasions as this to begin by in
voking the divine blessing
IA voice. object,
| The secretary called the roll of States, and
| received reports of the condition Of the repre-
| sentation of the various States. California.
| Louisiana. Maine, Nevada, South Carolina and
MT yUar nt nfaA mont
| ed sixty-fiye delegates present.
Mr.. Heath named Mr.. Richard Trevelick
temporary chairman. and he was elected unani-
| mously. Mr.. Trevelck was cheered as he took
| the stage, But, before he assumed the chair
| manship Rev. c. NJ. Lockwood gave address
| of welcome His mention of DR.. McGlynn was
| cheered He went on to speak of the dirty
| physical, moral and political condition of this
| city. The first could not be helped. and the
other two were related. Dirty morals made
| dirty politics. He predicted for earnest advo-
Gates of the needs of working men a respectful
hearing, not only in legislatures but in editorial
| Offices we'll, where mud -fingpg articles
| giving way to long columns OF labor news
Speaking of the aim of this meeting, he said it
represented the unrest of the workingmen. Its
| chief trouble was with the lobby, which repre-
| scented the class that bought legislation. Speak
| ing Of labor organization. which he favored, he
said that the riot at Pittsburg was the result of
| labor unorganized-the peaceful strike in New
| York was the result of labor organized.
| The convention. by rising vote, gave thanks
| for the minister who had the courage to speak
| as this minister had DONE"
| President Trevelllck, in assuming the chair,
/ counseled courtesy, good will. and good bust
ness methods. He then said that he in
doubt concerning the propriety of accepting this
honor, but at the last moment felt 1t his duty to
obey the wishes of the delegates He wanted
| cay that no with them In obedience to law.
but not to defy the law.
| Committees were ordered appointed composed
| OF one from each State on permanent organiza-
ton, rules. order of business, resolutions, plat
, form and. national committed
The original committee of thirteen ap-
pointed the permanent committee on credentials.
1t was ordered that all resolutions be referred
to the conn 1ittee on resolutions.
Illinois could net agree on its members of COM
| mittees, and was given time to appoint later.
AT the evening session the number of dele
| gates was much smaller than in tine afternoon
owing to the absence of many who were engaged
| III committee meetings. There were about two
hundred visitors in the dress circle. and the vast
auditorium of Music Hall seemed almost empty
A letter read from Gen. j. B. Weaver, of
Iowa, regretting his inability to be present He
suggested that the Platform should chiefly relate
| to land, money and transportation. He favored
the election Of Senators of the United States by
direct vote Of the people of the States. He
begged the convention not to put any new
startling principles in the platform. In con-
clusion, he said: go ahead strike hard. This
people shall be my people. and thy God shall be
my God" The rules were suspended to allow the
reading of a resolution favoring eight hours as
days work in all government, State and munich
pal employment 1t was from Josiah Kirby, Of
Cincinnati
The committee on credentials reported all Gre
dentlals in proper form.
Mr.. E. E. Hoff. of Henry county, Ohio asked
! permission to speak for ten minutes He de-
scribec himself as Republican from 1856 to
1883. He then went to the Prohibition party
but the Prohibition party, he had found. was
narrow gauge; now he wished to say to this con-
venton that if they would put prohibition in this
platform, they would win; if not. they would be
gone up. He then went to prove it bv saying
that the seven million farmers and the five mill
ion church members who want prohibition will
go with this new party if they will say in their
platform that their doctrine is that the open sa-
loon must go. That doctrine was bound to be
the popular one in this country. He begged the
convention to not try to revive the Greenback
party but he wanted the party to do more than
the Prohibition party, and do something that
will take the wind out of the sails of the Prohi-
bition party. He closed BY saving il that was
done, the party would have the prayers of every
woman in the whole country. and of every man
} and child who has felt the sting of the curse of
the open saloon. His address was frequently
and heartily applauded.
E. P Smith, delegate, in reply said if this
party shall kill the Prohibition party they will
drive 300, 900 votes back into the Republican
| party.
The committee on permanent organization re.
ported for president, A. ]. Streator of Illinois:
for first vice president, Richard F. Trevellick OF
{ Michigan. and long list of additional vice
presidents secretary, NJ. D. Shaw, of Missouri
assistant secretary. ". D. P. Bliss, of Massa
chusetts; reading clerk, George H. Lennon, Of
New York
The report was unanimously adopted, and Mr.
Streator went to the chair without the help Of
an escort, the suggestion of one being secuted by
the Chair, who said the workingmen should
scorn to ape the follies of aristocracies.
Mr. Streator began his address by saying
: Gentlemen of the convention" lady asked
S What about the lades?" to which the Chair re
8 sponded, ''and ladies of the convention. particu
S larly the lady from Wisconsin" Having thus
t started. he proceeded to say the object of this
r convention was to organize party for the com
o mon good of the whole people, to guard the weal
q | that this party was not the party OF anarchy